DJ Neil Fox denies sex charges

DJ Neil Fox has denied sex offences involving six woman, over a period spanning more than two decades.

The 53-year-old Magic presenter, known as Dr Fox, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London and spoke only to confirm his name and address, and indicate his pleas.

Three of the nine offences he is charged with relate to three juveniles, and are alleged to have taken place between 1991 and 1996, one at Chessington World Of Adventures theme park.

The other three complainants were allegedly attacked by the DJ between 2003 and 2014.

One woman claims that she was repeatedly assaulted at the Capital Radio studios in London’s Leicester Square.

Fox is charged with seven counts of indecent assault and two charges of sexual touching, against the six woman who were aged between 14 years old and 36 years old at the time.

Fox, from Fulham, southwest London, was first arrested in September last year, then again in December and last month.

Dressed in a dark pinstripe suit, white shirt and blue tie, he listened intently during the hearing as his wife Vicky sat in the public gallery.

Fox, who rose to fame presenting the charts show on Capital Radio, was a judge on Pop Idol between 2001 and 2003 alongside Simon Cowell, Pete Waterman, and Nicki Chapman.

He also appeared as himself judging a superhero talent show in BBC Three sketch show The Wrong Door.

Fox elected to have his trial at the Magistrates’ Court, and will next appear for a case management hearing on April 30.

Prosecutor Darren Watts told the court: “The Crown argue that the complaints show a consistent and determined pattern of sexual predatory behaviour on the part of the defendant which spans some 23 years.

“The age of the complainants range from 14 to 36 years old.”

He said Fox allegedly assaulted two different girls at a motor show in Bromley, south east London, in summer 1991, at which he was appearing in his capacity as a DJ.

Mr Watts said: “In relation to the first allegation the complainant was approximately 13 or 14 years of age. She has gone to a motor show, they have seen Mr Fox, they have asked for a photograph with him and he is said to have kissed her and forced his tongue down into her mouth.”

The court heard that a second teenager was allegedly assaulted by Fox in a similar manner at the event, but she claims he also put his hand up her skirt.

A third youngster, under the age of 16, alleges that, while she was at Chessington World of Adventures in April 1996, she asked the DJ for a photo and a kiss.

Mr Watts said: “He has responded by taking hold of her, again forcing his tongue into her mouth. She has then backed away.”

Four of the alleged indecent assaults are said to have taken place at Capital Radio in Leicester Square, on one woman, between January and December 2003.

Over the four separate instances Fox is alleged to have displayed “unacceptable behaviour”, Mr Watts said.

It is alleged that on one occasion he put his arms around the woman and squeezed her breasts, that he would regularly touch her bottom, and that one incident involved him simulating sex with the complainant.

Fox is accused of sexually touching two separate women at the Magic FM studios in Winsley Street, central London, between January 2003 and August 2014.

One complainant alleged that she was wearing a sleeveless top when the DJ walked up behind her and kissed her shoulder.

“When questioned about his actions, he has said ‘Oh, I just had to. You look as if you taste so good’,” Mr Watts said.

Jonathan Caplan QC, defending Fox, applied for the regular reporting restrictions which apply at this stage in court proceedings to be lifted, saying that there had been a lot of false reports about what his client had allegedly done.

Chief Magistrate Howard Riddle granted the application, allowing details of the offences to be published, and released Fox on bail.